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Pull In, Plug In

Jeff Paul, Walton EMC’s director of member services, has been keeping his eye on an interesting trend occurring throughout the co-op’s service area. He’s been watching the number of electric vehicle registrations climb.

He points to Gwinnett County as an example of how EVs are gaining in popularity locally.

“As of February 20, 2023, there were 808,936 registered vehicles in Gwinnett. Of those, 6,443 are electric,” he said. More than 1,000 EVs were registered in the county from October 2022 to February 2023 alone.

It’s no wonder then that about 30 percent of the phone calls Paul receives are from co-op members who are interested in “fueling up” their vehicles via an electrical outlet in their garage.

If you’re in the market for an EV, make the installation of a home charging station an early priority, Paul advises. His tips:

  • The most popular EV charger requires a 240-volt outlet. Most existing homes don’t have this type of outlet in the garage.
  • Have a licensed electrician evaluate your home electrical system to determine whether upgrades will be needed to add the required outlet. Installation should also be handled by a pro.

If you’re building a new home, put a 240-volt outlet in the garage — even if an EV isn’t in your immediate plans. Installing the outlet during construction is less expensive than adding one later.

For more EV charger advice, visit driveelectricgeorgia.org.

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